Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger provided in the embodiments of the present application includes a flat pipe and a plurality of plates, the plurality of plates being stacked, and the flat pipe being arranged between at least one group of adjacent plates; the flat pipe is provided with at least one through-hole; a first inter-plate channel is provided between at least one other group of adjacent plates; the heat exchanger comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel being not communicated with the second flow channel; a fluid in the first flow channel can exchange heat with a fluid in the second flow channel; combining the flat pipe with the plates helps to simplify the structure of the heat exchanger.

Description

[0001] The present application claims the priority of the Chinese Patent Application No. 202310684625.3, titled “HEAT EXCHANGER”, filed on Jun. 9, 2023 with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of heat exchange, and in particular to a heat exchanger.BACKGROUND

[0003] A heat exchanger includes a housing and a core body. The core body includes a first fluid-collecting pipe, a second fluid-collecting pipe, a finned plate, and flat pipes. Multiple horizontally-arranged flat pipes are evenly provided between the first fluid-collecting pipe and the second fluid-collecting pipe, and multiple fins, which are vertically arranged in an array arrangement, are inserted between every two adjacent flat pipes. Each of the flat pipe and the fluid-collecting pipe is provided with a refrigerant flow passage, and the finned plate is provided with a coolant flow path. The core body is located in an accommodating chamber of the housing to achieve a thermal energy exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant. The core body needs to be assembled in the accommodating chamber of the housing, which complicates the overall structure of the heat exchanger.SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the present application is to provide a heat exchanger having a simple structure.

[0005] In order to achieve the object above, the following technical solutions are adopted in an embodiment of the present application.

[0006] A heat exchanger includes at least one flat pipe and multiple plates. The multiple plates are arranged in a stacked manner, the flat pipe is arranged between at least one group of adjacent plates in a stacking direction of the multiple plates. Each of the at least one flat pipe is provided with at least one through-hole, and a first inter-plate passage is provided between at least another group of adjacent plates. The heat exchanger has a first flow path and a second flow path that are not in communication with each other, and a fluid in the first flow path is allowed to exchange heat with a fluid in the second flow path. The through-hole of the flat pipe forms a part of the first flow path, and the first inter-plate passage S forms a part of the second flow path.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present application, the heat exchanger includes at least one flat pipe and multiple plates. The multiple plates are arranged in a stacked manner, and the flat pipe is arranged between at least one group of adjacent plates in a stacking direction of the multiple plates. Each flat pipe is provided with at least one through-hole, and a first inter-plate passage is provided between at least another group of adjacent plates. The heat exchanger has a first flow path and a second flow path that are not in communication with each other, a fluid in the first flow path is allowed to exchange heat with a fluid in the second flow path. The flat pipe is combined with the plates, which is beneficial for simplifying the structure of the heat exchanger.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective structural view of a heat exchange unit A of a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded structural view of the heat exchange unit A of the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present application;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of the heat exchange unit A of the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the heat exchange unit A shown in FIG. 3 taken along line A-A;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the heat exchange unit A shown in FIG. 3 taken along line B-B;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective structural view of a third plate in FIG. 1 from one perspective;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective structural view of the third plate in FIG. 1 from another perspective;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective structural view of a second plate in FIG. 1 from one perspective;

[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective structural view of the second plate in FIG. 1 from another perspective;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective structural view of a combined structure of a flat pipe and the third plate from one perspective;

[0018] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective structural view of a combined structure of the flat pipe and the third plate according to another embodiment from one perspective;

[0019] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective structural view of a combined structure of the flat pipe and the third plate according to yet another embodiment from one perspective;

[0020] FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded structural view of a heat exchange unit A of a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective structural view of a first plate in FIG. 13 from one perspective;

[0022] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective structural view of the first plate in FIG. 13 from another perspective;

[0023] FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective structural view of a second plate in FIG. 13 from one perspective; and

[0024] FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective structural view of the second plate in FIG. 13 from another perspective.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present application will be further illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments as follows.

[0026] Reference is made to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, which schematically show a partial structure of a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment. The heat exchanger includes multiple plates 101, which are arranged in a stacked manner. A space for a fluid to flow through is provided between two adjacent plates 10. The heat exchanger includes at least one flat pipe 4. The flat pipe 4 is arranged between at least one group of adjacent plates 101 in a stacking direction of the plates 101. Each of the at least one flat pipe 4 is provided with at least one through-hole 41. A first inter-plate passage S is provided between at least another group of adjacent plates 101. The heat exchanger has a first flow path and a second flow path, which are not in communication with each other. A fluid in the first flow path is allowed to exchange heat with a fluid in the second flow path. The through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 forms a part of the first flow path, and the first inter-plate passage S forms a part of the second flow path. In this embodiment, the flat pipe 4 is provided between one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101, and the first inter-plate passage S is provided between said one plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101. The first inter-plate passage S and the flat pipe 4 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction of the plates 101. The first inter-plate passage S is used for circulation of the first fluid, and the through-hole 41 is used for circulation of the second fluid. The through-hole 41 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S. The flat pipe 4 is combined with the plates 101, which is beneficial for simplifying the structure of the heat exchanger. The flat pipe 4 has a strong pressure-bearing capacity, which is further beneficial for enhancing the structural strength of the heat exchanger.

[0027] In this embodiment, each plate 101 includes a body 1015 and a flanging 1011. The flanging 1011 is arranged along a periphery of the body 1015 and protrudes upward relative to the body 1015. The multiple plates 101, the flat pipe 4 and other components, such as a top plate, a bottom plate, and a mounting plate and the like, are assembled together to form a core body, which is placed as a whole in a brazing furnace for brazing. The flangings 1011 of adjacent plates 101 are welded to and sealed with each other. In this embodiment, an upper surface and a lower surface of the flat pipe 4 are welded to the adjacent plates 101, respectively. The heat exchanger is sealed by welding, and thus the heat exchanger having such structure offers high heat exchange efficiency, and eliminates the need for an additional housing to accommodate the core body, thereby simplifying the structure of the heat exchanger. Further, the overall fixation is achieved by brazing, such that the forming process of the heat exchanger is simple. In the present application, the first fluid refers to a coolant, which mainly serves as a cooling medium, such as cooling water or cooling oil. In the present application, the second fluid refers to a refrigerant, which mainly acts as a refrigerating medium, such as fluorocarbon refrigerant or carbon dioxide.

[0028] In other embodiments, a flat pipe 4 may be provided between one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates, another flat pipe 4 may be provided between said one plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101, and a first inter-plate passage S is only provided between the plates 101 in a lower layer. The refrigerant flows through the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4. That is, two consecutive layers of refrigerant inter-plate passages are provided. For example, a flat pipe 4 is provided between a first plate and a second plate, another flat pipe 4 is provided between the second plate and a third plate, and a first inter-plate passage S is provided between the third plate and a fourth plate. As such, the coolant may still exchange heat with the refrigerant. However, the heat exchange efficiency between the coolant and the refrigerant is low, resulting in relatively poor heat exchanging performance of the heat exchanger. Here, the first plate, the second plate, the third plate, and the fourth plate merely represent four adjacent plates and do not represent the order of these plates in the heat exchanger. In other embodiments, two or more consecutive layers of first inter-plate passages may be provided first, followed by the arrangement of the flat pipe 4. In other embodiments, a flat pipe 4 may be provided between one group of adjacent plates 101, and a first inter-plate passage S may be provided between each of the rest groups of adjacent plates 101. For convenience of description, the directions “upward” and “downward” are defined as upward and downward directions in FIG. 1 of the specification, which merely represent relative positions. A height direction, a length direction, and a width direction of the heat exchanger are defined as the height direction, the length direction, and the width direction in FIG. 1 of the specification. In the present application, the height direction of the heat exchanger is consistent with the stacking direction of the plates. In the present application, the length direction of the flat pipe is substantially consistent with the length direction of the heat exchanger. The term “substantially consistent” includes both exact consistency and approximate consistency. In the present application, the length direction of the plate is consistent with the length direction of the heat exchanger, and the width direction of the plate is consistent with the width direction of the heat exchanger. The directions “front” and “rear” are defined as front and rear directions in FIG. 1 of the specification, which merely represent relative positions.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 10, in this embodiment, in the length direction of the heat exchanger, each plate 101 includes a first end 1013 and a second end 1014. The body 1015 of the plate 101 further includes a first corner hole region 6 and a second corner hole region 7. The first corner hole region 6 is located close to the first end 1013, and the second corner hole region 7 is located close to the second end 1014. A heat exchange region 1012 is located between the first corner hole region 6 and the second corner hole region 7. In this embodiment, the first corner hole region 6 is located between the heat exchange region 1012 and a part of the flanging 1011 close to the first end 1013, and the second corner hole region 7 is located between the heat exchange region 1012 and a part of the flanging 1011 close to the second end 1014. The first corner hole region 6 includes a first corner hole 61 and a second corner hole 62, while the second corner hole region 7 includes a third corner hole 71 and a fourth corner hole 72. In the width direction of the heat exchanger, the first corner hole 61 and the third corner hole 71 are both located on the same side of the plate 101, while the second corner hole 62 and the fourth corner hole 72 are both located on the opposite side of the plate 101. The first corner hole 61 and the fourth corner hole 72 are diagonally arranged, and the second corner hole 62 and the third corner hole 71 are diagonally arranged.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the heat exchanger includes four passages: a first passage 104, a second passage 105, a third passage 106, and a fourth passage 107. The first corner holes 61 of the multiple plates 101 are at least partially aligned with each other in the stacking direction of the plates 101 to form the first passage 104, the second corner holes 62 of the multiple plates 101 are at least partially aligned with each other in the stacking direction of the plates 101 to form the second passage 105, the third corner holes 71 of the multiple plates 101 are at least partially aligned with each other in the stacking direction of the plates 101 to form the third passage 106, and the fourth corner holes 72 of the multiple plates 101 are at least partially aligned with each other in the stacking direction of the plates 101 to form the fourth passage 107. In the width direction of the heat exchanger, the first passage 104 and the third passage 106 are both located on the same side of the heat exchanger, while the second passage 105 and the fourth passage 107 are both located on the other opposite side of the heat exchanger. The first passage 104 and the fourth passage 107 are diagonally arranged, and the second passage 105 and the third passage 106 are diagonally arranged.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first passage 104 and the fourth passage 107 are used for the refrigerant to flow into and out of the heat exchanger, respectively, while the second passage 105 and the third passage 106 are used for the coolant to flow into and out of the heat exchanger, respectively. After the plates 101, the flat pipe 4 and other components are assembled together, the entire assembly undergoes brazing, and the corner hole regions of adjacent plates 101 are connected to each other by welding. In this embodiment, a spot welding is applied around outer peripheries of the first corner holes 61 between one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101. In a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plates 101, and near the outer peripheries of the first corner holes 61, a first channel 63 is provided between this one plate 101 and said one of its adjacent plates 101. Meanwhile, this one plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101 are connected to each other by welding in a circle around the outer peripheries of the first corner holes 61 thereof. In the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plates 101, and near the outer peripheries of the first corner holes 61, no first channel 63 that is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S is provided between this one plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101. As such, the first passage 104 may be in communication with the through-hole 41 through the first channel 63, and the first passage 104 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S. Similarly, by this welding solution, near outer peripheries of the fourth corner holes 72, a fourth channel 74 may be provided between this one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101, and the fourth passage 107 is in communication with the through-hole 41 through the fourth channel 74. Meanwhile, near the outer peripheries of the fourth corner holes 72, this plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101 are connected to each other by welding in a circle, such that the fourth passage 107 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S. Near outer peripheries of the second corner holes 62, a second channel 64 is provided between this one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101, and this plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101 are connected to each other by welding in a circle, such that the second passage 105 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S through the second channel 64, and the second passage 105 is not in communication with the through-hole 41. Near outer peripheries of the third corner holes 71, a third channel 73 is provided between this one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101, and this plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101 are connected to each other by welding in a circle, so that the third passage 106 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S through the third channel 73, and the third passage 106 is not in communication with the through-hole 41.

[0032] In this embodiment, the first passage 104 acts as an inlet passage for the refrigerant, and the fourth passage 107 acts as an outlet passage for the refrigerant, while the second passage 105 is an inlet passage for the coolant, and the third passage 106 act as an outlet passage for the coolant. The first passage 104 and the fourth passage 107 are diagonally arranged, while the second passage 105 and the third passage 106 are diagonally arranged, which may lengthen the flow path for the refrigerant and the flow path for the coolant, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. The refrigerant flows into the first passage 104 through an inlet of the first passage 104, then flows into the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 through the first channel 63, and then flows into the fourth passage 107 through the fourth channel 74, and flows out of the heat exchanger through the fourth passage 107. The first passage 104, the fourth passage 107, the first channel 63, the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4, and the fourth channel 74 are a part of the first flow path. The coolant flows into the second passage 105 through an inlet of the second passage 105, then flows into the first inter-plate passage S through the second channel 64, and subsequently flows into the third passage 106 through the third channel 73, and flows out of the heat exchanger through the third passage 106. The second passage 105, the third passage 106, the third channel 73, the first inter-plate passage S, and the second channel 64 are a part of the second flow path. Inlets and outlets of the first passage 104, the second passage 105, the third passage 106, and the fourth passage 107 may be located on an upper part or a lower part of the heat exchanger, which may be chosen according to requirements. In other embodiments, the first passage 104 may act as the inlet passage for the refrigerant, and the third passage 106 may act as the outlet passage for the refrigerant, while the second passage 105 may act as the inlet passage for the coolant, and the fourth passage 107 may act as the outlet passage for the coolant. Alternatively, the third passage106 may act as the inlet passage for the coolant, and the fourth passage 107 may act as the outlet passage for the coolant, while the first passage 101 and the second passage 102 may act as the inlet passage and the outlet passage for the refrigerant, respectively. The inlet passage or the outlet passage for the refrigerant or the coolant can be chosen according to requirements, as long as two of the four passages of the heat exchanger are used for the circulation of the first fluid, and the other two of the four passages are used for the circulation of the second fluid.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the multiple plates 101 include a first plate 1, a second plate 2 and a third plate 3. The first plate 1, the second plate 2 and the third plate 3 are stacked in sequence in the stacking direction of the plates 101, that is, the first plate 1, the second plate 2 and the third plate 3 are stacked from top to bottom, and the second plate 2 is located between the first plate 1 and the third plate 3. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger includes a heat exchange unit A, which includes the first plate 1, the second plate 2 and the third plate 3. The heat exchange unit A is a partial structure of the heat exchanger. In this embodiment, the first plate 1 and the third plate 3 have the same structure, so only two types of plates 101 need to be manufactured, which facilitates the formation of the plates 101. The types of plates 101 is reduced, which further facilities of the assembly of the heat exchanger. The first inter-plate passage S, which is used for circulation of the coolant, is formed between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2. The flat pipe 4 is positioned between the second plate 2 and the third plate 3, and the flat pipe 4 includes at least one through-hole 41, which is used for circulation of the refrigerant. The at least one through-hole 41 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, an accommodating chamber is enclosed by the flanging 1011 and the body 1015. In the present application, the first plate 1 has a first accommodating chamber 13, the second plate 2 has a second accommodating chamber 25, and the third plate 3 has a third accommodating chamber 36. In this embodiment, there is a single flat pipe 4, which is located in the third accommodating chamber 36. In this embodiment, the flat pipe 4 is located in the heat exchange region 1012, which facilitates of the assembly of the flat pipe 4 and also facilitates the subsequent inflow or outflow of the refrigerant to or from the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 in use. The flat pipe 4 includes at least one through-hole 41, each of which extends through the flat pipe 4 in the length direction of the flat pipe 4, and the through-hole 41 forms a refrigerant passage. The flat pipe 4 has a high structural strength and a strong pressure-bearing capacity, and thus the structural strength of the heat exchanger may be improved by using the flat pipe 4, particularly when the refrigerant is carbon dioxide. A working pressure of carbon dioxide is relatively high, and the flat pipe 4 may bear the working pressure of carbon dioxide. In other embodiments, a part of the flat pipe 4 may be located in the heat exchange region 1012 and another part of the flat pipe 4 may be located in the corner hole region.

[0035] In this embodiment, the at least one through-hole 41 is arranged in a row in the width direction of the heat exchanger, that is, the at least one through-hole 41 is arranged substantially in a same straight line in the width direction of the heat exchanger. This arrangement is beneficial for controlling the flow path for the refrigerant and improving the heat exchange performance. In other embodiments, the at least one through-hole 41 may be arranged in a wave shape or randomly in the width direction of the heat exchanger, which may still achieve the communication of the refrigerant and thus achieve heat exchange. In this embodiment, an upper surface of the flat pipe 4 is in contact with and connected to the second plate 2 by welding, and a lower surface of the flat pipe 4 is in contact with and connected to the third plate 3 by welding, which may prevent refrigerant from flowing into a gap between the surface of the flat pipe 4 and the plate 101, which could otherwise disrupt the refrigerant distribution and adversely affect the heat exchange efficiency. Further, the refrigerant flows through the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4, and the working pressure of the refrigerant mainly acts on the flat pipe 4, which may further enhance the structural strength of the heat exchanger.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 10, the flat pipe 4 includes a first side wall 43 and a second side wall 44. The first side wall 43 and the second side wall 44 are located on both sides of the flat pipe 4 in the width direction of the flat pipe 4, respectively. The first side wall 43 and the second side wall 44 both extend in the length direction of the flat pipe 4. In this embodiment, the first side wall 43 is in contact with the flanging 1011, and the second side wall 44 is in contact with the flanging 1011, which allows the refrigerant to flow in the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4, and the working pressure of the refrigerant mainly acts on the flat pipe 4. The flat pipe 4 has a strong pressure-bearing capacity, which is beneficial for enhancing the structural strength of the heat exchanger. Further, only a relatively small portion of the working pressure of the refrigerant acts on the plate 101, which is beneficial for avoiding deformation of the plate 101 or cracking of a weld seam between adjacent plates 101 when the working pressure of the refrigerant is excessively high. In other embodiments, the first side wall 43 may be fitted with the flanging 1011 with a gap therebetween, and the second side wall 44 may be fitted with the flanging 1011 with a gap therebetween. The gap between the first side wall 43 and the flanging 1011 may serve as a flow passage for the refrigerant, and the gap between the second side wall 44 and the flanging 1011 may also serve as a flow passage for the refrigerant, which enables the distribution of the refrigerant and provides a flow path for the refrigerant.

[0037] In other embodiments, the flat pipe 4 may be provided with multiple rows of through-holes 41. These through-holes are arranged in rows in the width direction of the heat exchanger and arranged in columns in the height direction of the heat exchanger. The through-holes 41 are arranged in multiple rows, which may increase the flow path for the refrigerant and improve heat exchange efficiency. In other embodiments, the through-holes 41 may be randomly arranged in the height and width directions of the heat exchanger. In this embodiment, each through-hole 41 is a regular circular through-hole, which facilitates the formation of the through-hole 41. In other embodiments, the through-hole 41 may have a wave shape or other non-circular shapes, that is, an inner peripheral wall defining the through-hole 41 is in a wave shape or other shapes.

[0038] In another embodiment, the heat exchanger includes multiple flat pipes 4, which are stacked together in the stacking direction of the plates 101, and adjacent flat pipes 4 are fixed to each other by welding. Each flat pipe 4 includes at least one through-hole 41, which may provide more flow paths for the refrigerant, thereby enhancing the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 11, in another embodiment, multiple flat pipes 4 are arranged in a spaced manner along the length direction of the plate 101, and the at least one through-hole 41 of each flat pipe 4 is arranged in the length direction of the plate 101. A gap is formed between every two adjacent flat pipes 4 for the refrigerant to flow therein, so that the refrigerant may flow from the through-hole 41 of one flat pipe 4 to the through-hole 41 of next flat pipe 4 through the gap, which is beneficial for lengthening the flow path for the refrigerant, increasing the heat exchange area, and thus improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. In other embodiments, a flow guiding structure, such as a protrusion, may be provided in the gap between adjacent flat pipes 4 in the length direction of the plate 101. The flow guiding structure is configured to guide the refrigerant from the through-hole 41 of one flat pipe 4 to the through-hole 41 of another flat pipe 4, which facilitates distribution of the refrigerant.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 12, in another embodiment, the heat exchanger includes multiple flat pipes 4, which are arranged in a spaced manner along the width direction of the plate 101. A gap between every two adjacent flat pipes 4 may be used for the refrigerant to flow therein, which may still achieve the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant.

[0041] In other embodiments, multiple flat pipes 4 are arranged in a spaced manner along the length direction of the plate 101, and a gap is provided between every two adjacent flat pipes 4 in the length direction of the plate 101. Meanwhile, additional multiple flat pipes 4 are arranged in a spaced manner along the width direction of the plate 101, and a gap is provided between every two adjacent flat pipes arranged in the width direction of the plate 101. As such, the flow path for the refrigerant may be further lengthened, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the third plate 3 includes at least one flow guiding portion 31, which is located in the first corner hole region 6 and positioned around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61. In this embodiment, the flow guiding portion 31 is located close to the heat exchange region 1012, and the at least one flow guiding portion 31 is arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61. In this embodiment, each flow guiding portion 31 has a groove with an upward-facing opening. The flow guiding portion 31 includes a flow guiding groove 311, and the first passage 104 is in communication with the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 through the flow guiding groove 311. The provision of the flow guiding portion 31 enables distribution of the refrigerant to the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 via several paths, achieving the refrigerant distribution in the first corner hole region 6 and improving the heat exchange efficiency. In this embodiment, multiple flow guiding portions 31 are provided, which is beneficial for the refrigerant distribution.

[0043] In this embodiment, the third plate 3 further includes at least one first boss portion 33, which is located in the first corner hole region 6 and positioned around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61. Each first boss portion 33 protrudes upward from an upper surface of the third plate 3, and the at least one first boss portion 33 and the at least one flow guiding portion 31 are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61. Each first boss portion 33 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the third plate 3.

[0044] In this embodiment, the second plate 2 includes at least one third protruding portion 26 that is matched with the at least one flow guiding portion 31, respectively. Furthermore, the second plate 2 further includes at least one second boss portion 21 that is matched with the at least one first boss portion 33, respectively. The at least one third protruding portion 26 and the at least one second boss portion 21 are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61. Each third protruding portion 26 has a groove. Each second boss portion 21 protrudes downward from a lower surface of the second plate 2. The second boss portion 21 is in contact with and connected to the corresponding first boss portion 33 by welding. The first channel 63 is enclosed by the third protruding portion 26 and the flow guiding portion 31, and the first channel 63 is in communication with the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4. The flow guiding portion 31 guides the refrigerant into the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4.

[0045] In this embodiment, the second corner hole region 7 of the third plate 3 includes at least one lead-out portion 32, which is located around an outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72. The at least one lead-out portion 32 is arranged close to the heat exchange region 1012, and is arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72. Each lead-out portion 32 has a groove with an upward-facing opening. In this embodiment, each lead-out portion 32 includes at least one lead-out groove 321, and the fourth passage 107 is in communication with the through-hole 41 in the flat pipe 4 through the lead-out groove 321. The lead-out groove 321 may be configured to guide the refrigerant in the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 to the fourth passage 107, and the refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger through the fourth passage 107, which is beneficial for reducing the flow resistance of the refrigerant and reducing the pressure drop of the refrigerant. In this embodiment, multiple lead-out grooves 321 are provided, which is beneficial for increasing the outflow paths for the refrigerant and reducing the outflow resistance of the refrigerant.

[0046] In this embodiment, the second corner hole region 7 of the third plate 3 further includes at least one third boss portion 34, each of which protrudes upward from the upper surface of the third plate 3. The third boss portion 34 is located around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72, and is arranged close to the heat exchange region 1012. The at least one third boss portion 34 and the at least one lead-out portion 32 are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72. In this embodiment, the second plate 2 includes at least one fourth boss portion 22 that is matched with the at least one third boss portion 34, respectively. Furthermore, the second plate 2 includes at least one fourth protruding portion 27 that is matched with the at least one lead-out portion 32, respectively. The at least one fourth protruding portion 27 and the at least one fourth boss portion 22 are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72. Each fourth protruding portion 27 has a groove. Each fourth boss portion 22 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the second plate 2, and the third boss portion 34 is in contact with and connected to the corresponding fourth boss portion 22 by welding. A channel, i.e., the fourth channel 74, is enclosed by the fourth protruding portion 27 and the lead-out portion 32, so that the refrigerant flows into the fourth passage 107 from the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 through the fourth channel 74. The lead-out portion 32 guides the second fluid in the through-hole 41 to the fourth passage 107.

[0047] In this embodiment, the second plate 2 and the third plate 3 are connected by welding in a circle around the outer peripheries of the second corner holes 62, such that the second passage 105 is not in communication with the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4. The second plate 2 and the third plate 3 are connected by welding in a circle around the outer peripheries of the third corner holes 71, such that the third passage 106 is not in communication with the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4.

[0048] In this embodiment, a second channel 64 is formed between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 around the outer peripheries of the second corner holes 62. The second channel 64 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S, and the second passage 105 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S through the second channel 64. Similarly, a third channel 73 is formed between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 around the outer peripheries of the third corner holes 71. The third channel 73 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S, and the third passage 106 is in communication with the first inter-plate passage S through the third channel 73. The first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are connected by welding in a circle around the outer peripheries of the first corner holes 61, such that the first passage 104 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S. The first plate 1 and the second plate 2 are connected by welding in a circle around the outer peripheries of the fourth corner holes 72, such that the fourth passage 107 is not in communication with the first inter-plate passage S.

[0049] In this embodiment, the flow guiding groove 311 is a narrow groove having a small area. As such, the first boss portion 33 has a relatively large area, and the area of the first boss portion 33 is significantly larger than that of the flow guiding portion 31, which is beneficial for increasing the welding area between the first boss portion 33 and the second boss portion 21, increasing the density of the welding spots around the first corner hole 61. This ensures the structural reliability of the second plate 2 and the third plate 3 after being welded, thereby enhancing the structural strength of the heat exchanger, and enhancing its pressure-bearing capacity for the refrigerant. The provision of the first boss portion 33 may further ensure the wall thickness of the first passage104 and the strength of the welded structure. In addition, a channel, i.e., the first channel 63, is enclosed by the first boss portion 33 and the second boss portion 21 so that the refrigerant flows from the first passage 104 into the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 through the first channel 63. In other embodiments, only one flow guiding portion 31 may be provided.

[0050] In this embodiment, the lead-out groove 321 is a narrow groove, and the third boss portion 34 has a relatively large area, which is beneficial for increasing the welding area between the third plate 3 and the second plate 2, increasing the density of the welding spots around the fourth corner hole 72, thereby further enhancing the structural strength of the heat exchanger. The provision of the third boss portion 34 may ensure the wall thickness of the fourth passage 107 and the strength of the welded structure. The provision of the first boss portion 33, the second boss portion 21, the third boss portion 34, and the fourth boss portion 22 may ensure the distance between the third plate 3 and the second plate 2, which is beneficial for the sealing between some of the corner holes. In other embodiments, only one lead-out portion 32 may be provided.

[0051] In this embodiment, the density of the welding spots around the periphery of the first corner hole 61 and the density of the welding spots around the periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 are relatively higher than that around the periphery of the second corner hole 62. The density of the welding spots around the periphery of the first corner hole 61 and the density of the welding spots around the periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 are relatively higher than that around the periphery of the third corner hole 71. Such configuration may enhance the bearing capacity of the heat exchanger to the working pressure of the refrigerant, especially the carbon dioxide refrigerant. The density of the welding spots around the peripheries of the second corner hole 62 and the third corner hole 71 is lower, which may save solder and meet the requirements for the bearing capacity of the heat exchanger to the working pressure of the coolant. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the densities of the welding spots around the peripheries of all four corner holes are substantially the same.

[0052] In other embodiments, in the case that a part of the flat pipe 4 is located in the heat exchange region 1012 and another part of the flat pipe 4 is located in the first corner hole region 6 and / or the second corner hole region 7, the flow guiding portion 31 and the lead-out portion 32 should be further provided on a side of the first corner hole region 6 and / or the second corner hole region 7 close to the flanging 1011 corresponding, which may increase the contact area between the refrigerant and the flat pipe 4, thereby enhancing the strength of the heat exchanger.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes fins 5, which are located in the second accommodating chamber 25. At least some of the fins 5 are located in the heat exchange region 1012, and the wall defining the first inter-plate passage S includes the fins 5. An upper end surface of the fin 5 is fixed to the lower surface of the first plate 1 by welding, and a lower end surface of the fin 5 is fixed to the upper surface of the second plate 2 by welding. In this embodiment, each fin 5 includes several fifth protruding portions 51 and at least one first groove portion 52. Each fifth protruding portion 51 has a downward-facing opening, and each first groove portion 52 has an upward-facing opening. At least one first groove portion 52 is provided between adjacent fifth protruding portions 51. A coolant flow path is formed by the fifth protruding portion 51 and the first groove portion 52. The provision of the fin 5 may increase the flow path for the coolant, which is beneficial for improving the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant. The structure of the fin 5 is only schematically illustrated in the present application. In other embodiments, the fin 5 may be provided with the fifth protruding portion 51 only or the first groove portion 52 only. The fin 5 may have various forms. In other embodiments, the heat exchanger may be provided with no fin, meaning that no turbulence structure is provided between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, and the coolant flows between the plate surfaces of the first plate 1 and the second plate 2.

[0054] In a second embodiment of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 17, the heat exchanger is provided with no fin 5, and the plate 101 is a dimple plate. In this embodiment, the second plate 2 has several first protruding portions 24, which are arranged in a spaced manner. Each first protruding portion 24 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the second plate 2 and faces towards the first plate 1. Each first protruding portion 24 has a recessed portion on a side facing the third plate 3, and a groove is formed between adjacent first protruding portions 24. The coolant has to bypass the first protruding portions 24. The provision of the first protruding portion 24 is beneficial for increasing the turbulence effect of the second plate 2 on the coolant, lengthens the flow path for the coolant, and increases the contact area between the coolant and the refrigerant, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. Correspondingly, several second protruding portions 12 are provided on the first plate 1. Each second protruding portion 12 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the first plate 1 and faces towards the second plate 2. The second protruding portion 12 has a recessed portion on a side away from the second plate 2, and a groove is formed between adjacent second protruding portions 12. At least a part of a bottom end of the second protruding portion 12 is in contact with and connected to a top end of the first protruding portion 24 by welding. A coolant passage is formed between the first protruding portion 24 and the second protruding portion 12, which may increase the flow space for the coolant. Further, the coolant has to bypass the protrusion of the second protruding portion 12, which may further lengthen the flow path for the coolant and enhance the turbulence effect of the plate 101 on the coolant. The second protruding portion 12 is connected to the first protruding portion 24 by welding, so that the connection strength between the plates 101 may be enhanced. In other embodiments, the second plate 2 may have the first protruding portion 24, whereas the first plate 1 has no second protruding portion 12, and the second protruding portion is in contact with and connected to the lower surface of the plate 2 by welding. Alternatively, the second plate 2 has no first protruding portion 24, and the first plate 1 has the second protruding portion 12. The second protruding portion 12 is in contact with and connected to the upper surface of the second plate 2 by welding, which may also lengthen the flow path for the coolant.

[0055] In this embodiment, each of the third plate 3 and the first plate 1 has first protrusions 37. The corner hole region of the third plate 3 has first protrusions 37, and the first protrusion 37 protrudes towards the second plate 2. Each first protrusion 37 has a recessed portion on a side away from the second plate 2. The first protrusions 37 are provided around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61 and the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 of the third plate 3, respectively. Near the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61 of the third plate 3, a groove is formed between adjacent first protrusions 37 to guide the refrigerant from the first passage 104 into the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4. Near the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 of the third plate 3, a groove is formed between adjacent first protrusions 37 to guide the refrigerant from the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 into the fourth passage 107.

[0056] In this embodiment, the corner hole region of the second plate 2 has second protrusions 28 that match with the first protrusions 37, respectively. The second protrusions 28 are provided around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61 and the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 of the first plate 1, respectively. Each second protrusion 28 protrudes towards the third plate 3 and has a recessed portion on a side facing the first plate 1. Around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61, the second protrusion 28 of the plate 2 is in contact with and fixed to the first protrusion 37 of the plate 3 by welding, which may enhance the connection strength between the third plate 3 and the second plate 2, thereby enhancing the strength of the heat exchanger, and increasing the pressure-bearing capacity of the heat exchanger.

[0057] In other embodiments, the third plate 3 is provided with no first protrusion 37, and the second plate 2 is provided with no second protrusion 28. The flow guiding portion 31 and the first boss portion 33 are provided around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61 of the third plate 3. Similarly, the lead-out portion 32 and the third boss portion 34 are provided around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 of the third plate 3. The third protruding portion 26 and the second boss portion 21 are provided around the outer periphery of the first corner hole 61 of the second plate 2. Similarly, the fourth protruding portion 27 and the fourth boss portion 22 are provided around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole 72 of the second plate 2. As such, the guiding effect on the refrigerant may be achieved, and the strength of the heat exchanger may be enhanced.

[0058] In other embodiments, the second plate 2 may be a single-herringbone or multi-herringbone type plate (not shown in the figures), where the single-herringbone refers to a case in which each first protruding portion 24 includes two angled extension segments (not shown in the figures), and each segment is inclined relative to the length direction of the plate 101, and the two extension segments may be symmetrically or asymmetrically arranged in the width direction of the plate 101. The multi-herringbone refers to a case in which the first protruding portion 24 includes multiple angled extension segments, each segment is inclined relative to the length direction of the plate 101, and the number of extension segments is greater than two. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the plate 101 may be provided with other forms of structures to lengthen the flow path for the coolant. In the present application, only two types of ripple-like plate 101 are illustrated. Furthermore, the forms of the first protruding portion 24 and the second protruding portion 12 are not limited to the above description. The first protruding portion 24 and the second protruding portion 12 may have various forms.

[0059] In other embodiments, the flat pipe 4 is provided between every two adjacent plates, the through-hole 41 of one flat pipe between one plate 101 and one of its adjacent plates 101 allows the flow of the coolant, while the through-hole 41 of another flat pipe between the same plate 101 and the other of its adjacent plates 101 permits the flow of the refrigerant. The coolant and refrigerant flow in the through-hole 41 of the flat pipe 4 to facilitate exchange heat between them. For example, a flat pipe 4 is provided between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2, and another flat pipe 4 is provided between the second plate 2 and the third plate 3. The flat pipe 4 between the first plate 1 and the second plate 2 is used for the refrigerant to flow therein, while the flat pipe 4 between the second plate 2 and the third plate 3 is used for the coolant to flow therein, which may also achieve heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant.

[0060] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present application rather than to limit the technical solutions described in the present application. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still make modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present application, and all technical solutions and improvements without departing from the concept and scope of the present application should be included within the scope defined by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:at least one flat pipe; anda plurality of plates, whereinthe plurality of plates are arranged in a stacked manner, the flat pipe is arranged between at least one group of adjacent plates in a stacking direction of the plurality of plates, each flat pipe is provided with at least one through-hole, and a first inter-plate passage is provided between at least another group of adjacent plates; andthe heat exchanger has a first flow path and a second flow path that are not in communication with each other, a fluid in the first flow path is allowed to exchange heat with a fluid in the second flow path, the through-hole of the flat pipe forms a part of the first flow path, and the first inter-plate passage forms a part of the second flow path.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, whereinthe flat pipe is provided between at least one of the plurality of plates and one of its adjacent plates, and the first inter-plate passage is provided between said plate and the other of its adjacent plates.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, whereinthe flat pipe is provided between one of the plurality of plates and one of its adjacent plates, the first inter-plate passage is provided between said plate and the other of its adjacent plates, and the first inter-plate passage and the flat pipe are arranged in the stacking direction of the plurality of plates in an alternate manner.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, whereinthe plurality of plates comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate, which are stacked in sequence;the heat exchanger further comprises fins, which are located between the second plate and the first plate adjacent to the second plate, a wall defining the first inter-plate passage comprises the fins; andthe flat pipe is provided between the second plate and the third plate adjacent to the second plate.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, whereinthe flat pipe is parallel with plate surfaces of the plurality of plates;an upper surface of the flat pipe is connected to the second plate by welding, and a lower surface of the flat pipe is connected to the third plate by welding; andeach of the at least one through-hole extends through the flat pipe in a length direction of the flat pipe.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, whereinthe number of the flat pipe is one, and the flat pipe comprises at least one through-hole.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein each plate comprises a body and a flanging, wherein the body comprises a heat exchange region, and the flanging is arranged along a periphery of the body and protrudes upward relative to the body;at least a part of the flat pipe is located in the heat exchange region, the flat pipe comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, which are located on both sides of the flat pipe in a width direction of the flat pipe, respectively; andthe first side wall is in clearance fit with or in contact with the flanging, and the second side wall is in clearance fit with or in contact with the flanging.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, further comprising four passages: a first passage, a second passage, a third passage and a fourth passage, whereinin the width direction of the heat exchanger, the first passage and the third passage are located on a same side of the heat exchanger, while the second passage and the fourth passage are located on the other side of the heat exchanger, the first passage and the fourth passage are diagonally arranged, and the second passage and the third passage are diagonally arranged;two of the four passages of the heat exchanger are configured for a first fluid to flow therein, these two passages are in communication with each other through the at least one through-hole of the flat pipe, and are not in communication with the first inter-plate passage; andthe other two of the four passages are configured for a second fluid to flow therein, these two passages are in communication with each other through the first inter-plate passage, and are not in communication with the through-hole.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, whereinthe third plate comprises at least one flow guiding portion and at least one first boss portion, the at least one flow guiding portion and the at least one first boss portion are arranged in a spaced manner around an outer periphery of a first corner hole, each flow guiding portion has a groove, each of the at least one first boss portion protrudes upward from an upper surface of the third plate, the second plate comprises the at least one third protruding portion that is matched with the at least one flow guiding portion, respectively, and the second plate further comprises at least one second boss portion that is matched with the at least one first boss portion, respectively, wherein the at least one third protruding portion and the at least one second boss portion are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the first corner hole, each third protruding portion has a groove, each second boss portion protrudes downward from a lower surface of the second plate, the second boss portion is in contact with and connected to the corresponding first boss portion by welding, a first channel is enclosed by the at least one third protruding portion and the at least one flow guiding portion, and the first channel is in communication with the through-hole of the flat pipe; and / orthe third plate comprises at least one lead-out portion and at least one third boss portion, wherein the at least one lead-out portion and the at least one third boss portion are arranged in a spaced manner around an outer periphery of a fourth corner hole, each lead-out portion has a groove, each third boss portion protrudes upward from the upper surface of the third plate, the second plate further comprises in at least one fourth protruding portion and at least one fourth boss portion, wherein the at least one fourth protruding portion and the at least one fourth boss portion are arranged in a spaced manner around the outer periphery of the fourth corner hole, each fourth protruding portion has a groove, each fourth boss portion protrudes downward from the lower surface of the second plate, the third boss portion is welded to the corresponding fourth boss portion, a fourth channel is enclosed by the fourth protruding portion and the lead-out portion, and the fourth channel is in communication with the through-hole of the flat pipe.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, whereinthe plurality of plates comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate, which are stacked in sequence;the heat exchanger further comprises fins, which are located between the second plate and the first plate adjacent to the second plate, a wall defining the first inter-plate passage comprises the fins; andthe flat pipe is provided between the second plate and the third plate adjacent to the second plate.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, whereinthe plurality of plates comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate, which are stacked in sequence;the heat exchanger further comprises fins, which are located between the second plate and the first plate adjacent to the second plate, a wall defining the first inter-plate passage comprises the fins; andthe flat pipe is provided between the second plate and the third plate adjacent to the second plate.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, whereinthe number of the flat pipe is plural, and each flat pipe comprises at least one through-hole, whereinthe plurality of flat pipes are stacked in a height direction of the heat exchanger; orthe plurality of flat pipes are arranged in a spaced manner along a width direction of the heat exchanger; and / or, the plurality of flat pipes are arranged in a spaced manner along a length direction of the heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, whereineach plate comprises a body and a flanging, wherein the body comprises a heat exchange region, and the flanging is arranged along a periphery of the body and protrudes upward relative to the body;at least some of the flat pipes are located in the heat exchange region, each flat pipe comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, which are located on both sides of the flat pipe in a width direction of the flat pipe, respectively; andthe first side wall is in clearance fit with or in contact with the flanging, and the second side wall is in clearance fit with or in contact with the flanging.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, further comprising four passages: a first passage, a second passage, a third passage and a fourth passage, whereinin the width direction of the heat exchanger, the first passage and the third passage are located on a same side of the heat exchanger, while the second passage and the fourth passage are located on the other side of the heat exchanger, the first passage and the fourth passage are diagonally arranged, and the second passage and the third passage are diagonally arranged;two of the four passages of the heat exchanger are configured for a first fluid to flow therein, these two passages are in communication with each other through the at least one through-hole of the flat pipe, and are not in communication with the first inter-plate passage; andthe other two of the four passages are configured for a second fluid to flow therein, these two passages are in communication with each other through the first inter-plate passage, and are not in communication with the through-hole.

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